Waterville girls roll to KVAC B title
BRUNSWICK — The Waterville Senior High School girls indoor track and field team is a perennial contender for whatever title happens to be up for grabs at any meet. When the Purple Panthers best athletes compete with a little chip on their shoulder, they’re even better.
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“I knew this season I hadn’t done as well as I’ve wanted to do in the hurdles,” Waterville senior Sarah Shoulta said. “Today gives me hope that I can go to states and do what I want to do.”
Shoulta took a pair of first-place finishes, in the 55-meter hurdles and pole vault, and Waterville cruised to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B girls team title with 167 points, well ahead of second place Belfast (101 points).
The Belfast boys easily won the Class B title, with 149 points. Maine Central Institute was second (62.5) while Waterville checked in third (60). The Lewiston girls and boys swept the KVAC A meet.
The Waterville girls won eight individual events, along with the 4×200 relay. Along with Shoulta’s wins in the 55 hurdles (8.93 seconds) and pole vault (9 feet), Waterville’s other multiple winner was Lauren Brown, who took the mile (5:32.33) and 2 mile (11:51.61).
Waterville sophomore Katherine Vince finished fourth in the 55 preliminaries, but edged Erskine’s Abby Haskell in the finals, winning in 7.81 seconds. Vince said she had to take her coaches advice and avoid being too hard on herself.
“I felt good as soon as I got out of the blocks,” Vince said.
Other winners for the Panthers were Lydia Roy in the 800 (2:36.06), Katie Lopes in the high jump (4-10) and Kellie Bolduc in the triple jump (34-3.50).
MCI’s Katie Hughes was the Class B shot put winner, with a throw of 31-7.75.
In the girls KVAC A 55 dash, Skowhegan’s Madeline Price was seeded second behind Heather Kendall of Lewiston. Price jumped ahead early, then felt Kendall on her shoulder, and pushed a little harder to take the win with a time of 7.51 seconds to Kendall’s 7.52.
“I was expecting (Kendall) to be in front of me,” said Price, who also won the triple jump (35-5). “I could see her arm, so I pushed. I think the lean got me the win.”
Messalonskee’s Taylor Lenentine rebounded from a disappointing 55 hurdles to win the KVAC A pole vault with a vault of 10 feet.
“I was happy to be able to show my teammates if you have a rough event, you can bring it back in the next one,” Lenentine said.
Messalonskee’s Emily Steinmeyer won the shot put with a throw of 33-4.75. Steinmeyer’s winning throw came on her first attempt, and broke the school record she had been trying for years to claim.
“I was just too blown away,” Steinmeyer said. “After I made that throw, I was giddy the whole time.”
In the KVAC A boys meet, Mt. Blue’s Nate Pratt-Holt won the triple jump with a leap of 42-4. Pratt-Holt’s winning jump came on the third of his four attempts.
“I was a little nervous because I faulted on the first two, and needed a good jump,” he said. “I had a feeling it was up there.”
Messalonskee teammates Damon Bickford (50-8.25) and Jake Doyon (44-6.50) went one-two in the Class A boys shot put.
Waterville’s Chris Cote was a double winner, in the mile (4:33.87) and 2 mile (10:17.89).
“I was looking for a good time in the mile, because I had a good 2 mile last week,” Cote said. “I decided to go out in the 2 mile and see what happens.”
Waterville’s Trevor Gray won the KVAC B shot put, with a throw of 51-9.5, to set a conference record.
“I was really trying to focus on not faulting and coming through the back with good speed and staying low,” Gray said.
Lewiston’s Hassan Mohamed was the KVAC A boys athlete of the meet, while Drew Nealey of Belfast was the KVAC B winner. Brunswick’s Tiffany Turner was the KVAC A girls athlete of the meet, and Cassidy Hill of Belfast won the honor in KVAC B.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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